Friction stream feeder



July 14' 1942.# r. J. KAUFFELD 2,289,501

ERIcTIoN STREAM FEEDER Filed sept. 1s, 1941` 2 sheets-sheet 2 PatentedJuly 14, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRICTION STREAM FEEDERTheodore John Kauifcld, New York, N. Y.

Application September 16, 1941, Serial No. 411,086

16 Claims.

This invention relates to devices for the successive feeding of fiatsheets of paper or other material from a pile or bank in which they arestacked, to a point of delivery, at which point certain operations maybe performed on the sheets. Such feeding devices are applicable to thefeeding of paper sheets to printing presses,

folding, cutting or slitting machines, and many devices.

More particularly the invention relates to sheet feeders of the typecommonly known as stream feeders, which are adapted to forwardsuccessive sheets of material in overlapping arrangement, means beingprovided for initiating the separating and feeding of a succeeding sheetfrom the pile well before the rear edge of the next preceding one hasmoved beyond the front edge of the pile.y

This mode of advancing sheets has found favor, especially in theprinting industry, on account of the extreme rapidity of feedingattained and the consequent saving of time; and much ingenuity has beenexercised and numerous proposals have been made for accomplishing theseresults. Many of these prior devices have employed suction cup membersfor seizing and separating the sheets and for moving them forwardly offof the pile. Others have used vertically reciprocating suction grippingmembers for seizing the top sheet and lifting its rear portion off ofthe pile, and a mechanical element such as a reciprocating hook forcatching the rear edge ofV the sheet and pushing it forwardly. However,difficulties have been encountered in the successful and practicaladaptation of these latter devices in the matter of damaged sheets, thefeeding of doubles, and the inability to accurately and effectively feedsheets of thin, light-weight material.

It is the general object of the present invention to provide a novel andimproved sheet feeder of the stream feeding type, which is of simple andcompact construction, easy and economical to manufacture, operate andmaintain, and which will efficiently handle sheets of widely differingwidths, thicknesses, and textures. A more particular object is toprovide a stream feeder in which a frictional sheet contacting member isemployed, i. e., a feeding member which is automatically actuated toperiodically rub against the successive top sheets of the pile in aforward direction to move them relatively to the sheets next below inorder to separate them from the pile and present them to the forwardingconveyor usually provided in advance of the front side of the pile.

In its preferred embodiment, the invention contemplates the provision ofa rotary feeding element made of rubber, leather, or some otherfrictional material which is adapted to loe-brought into contact withthe top of the pile of sheets and to buckle theV top sheet forwardly ofthe pile, the forward portions of the sheet being stopped temporarily bymeans which is released when the buckle is formed to allow the frontedge to snap forwardly to be received by the conveyor. During thebuckling operation, the rear margin of the top sheet is withdrawn frombeneath a holddownv member or pressure finger, and as the stop for theforward part of the sheet is removed, an air blast is directeddownwardly upon the buckled portion of the sheet, the jets of air actingas a brush to cause the sheet to straighten out and the front edge toproject forwardly into the bite of the conveyor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and effectivecushioned or resilient mounting for the feeding mechanism and certain ofits driving transmission devices, this mounting being adjustable toregulate thepressure with which the feeding devices bear upon the pile.

Other objects and features of novelty, including the provision ofsynchronized actuating means for the feeding, buckling, and releasingelements, will be apparent when the following specification is read inconnection with the accompanying drawings in which one embodiment oftheinvention is illustrated by way of example.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a sheet feeder embodying thefeatures of the invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken on line 2 2 ofFigure 1 g' Figure 3 is a vertical'transverse sectional View taken online 3 3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in vertical transverse section, taken online 4 4 of Figure 2, showing the sheet contacting elements of thefeeder on a somewhat larger scale;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional View, taken online 5 5 of Figure 1, showing the front stop and its actuating mechanismto better advantage; and

Figure 6 is a somewhat diagrammatic view illustrating one of numerousmeans which may be employed to synchronize the air blast with themechanical portions of the sheet feeder.

As clearly shown in Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, the pile of sheets,designated P, is suitably supported with relation to the feeding meansand within the confines of the side frame members I0, which are the onlyportions of the main supporting frame of the feeder which need be shownfor the purposes of illustration of the present invention. Sheet feedersof this type may be selfcontained and provided with their own individualsupporting frames, or they may be incorporated in the various operativedevices for treating or otherwise handling the sheets, in which case acommon main frame may be provided for the feeder and the sheet treatinginstrumentality, whether a printing press, a folding machine, or acollating mechanism.

Extending across the machine from one of the upwardly projecting sideframes II! to the other, and in front of the pile P, is a rotatableshaft I2; this shaft being driven by any suitable mechanism (not shown)which may be synchronized with the drive for the device to which thesheets are to be fed. Upon this shaft I2 are xed pulleys I4 about whichare trained the conveyor tapes I5, the conveyor thus provided beingadapted to forward the sheets, as they are fed from the pile, to thedesired point of delivery.

Suitable top rollers may be provided which cooperate with the conveyortapes I5 and pulleys I4, these rollers being indicated at I6 in Figure3. The use of such top rollers is conventional and they are omitted fromthe other* figures of the drawings in the interest of clarity.

Also extending between the side frames II! is a rotatable shaft IB whichis the main supporting and driving shaft for the sheet separating andfeeding device. this shaft I8, a rearwardly extending elongatedsupporting member, comprising essentially the rod or bar 25, is pivotedby means of bifurcated element or bracket 2|, the two arms 22 of whichare provided with openings to receive the shaft I8. The arms 22 of thebracket 2I are provided with upward extensions 23 which comprise ineffect lever arms against which a resilient force is applied in order tocounter-balance the weight of the supporting member and the feedingmechanism carried thereby. To effect this resilient balancing, acompression device, designated generally at 25, is disposed between theupper ends of the arms 23 and a fixed cross bar 28 which extends betweenthe side frames I0. The device 25 comprises the block 21 which hastrunnions received within the notches 29 f-ormed in the arms 23, and thepin 38 which is threaded into the block 21 as at 3l. A spring seatingflange 32 is provided on the rod or pin L3l) and the i coil spring 34surrounds the pin 30 and is compressed between the flange 32 and thefront face of the bar 25. The pin 3i) passes freely through the crossbar 25 and is provided with a squared outer end 35 whereby it may berotated in order to `adjust its relative position within the block 21and regulate the bearing pressure of the feeding device upon the pile.

Adjustable to various operative positions along the supporting bar 20 isthe carriage or bracket 40, this member being provided with an openingto receive the bar or shaft 20 and a set screw 4I for securing thecarriage rigidly to the bar 20 in its adjusted position. A pair ofseparating and feeding rolls are rotatably supported from the carriage4l) by the stub axle 46, and upon the rearwardly extending bracket 41 onthe carriage 4U, there is provided an adjustable pressure finger orhold-down device 48, the adjustment of the ringer being accomplished bymeans of the At an intermediate point on thumb screw indicated at 45. Apair of forwardly extending lugs 58 serve to support the air blast tube5I which is connected at one end with a suitable source of air pressureby means of the iiexible hose 52. The opposite end of the tube 5I isclosed and the lower side of the tube is provided with a series ofopenings 54 through which jets of air 55 may be directed downwardly (andpreferably slightly forwardly) upon the successive top sheets of thepile.

The feeding wheels 45 are surfaced with rubber or leather which may beroughened or provided with protuberances in any desired or conventionalmanner so that the friction between the surface of the wheels 45 and thetop sheets is definitely greater than the friction between thesuccessive sheets of the pile. The separating and feeding wheels 45 arecontinuously rotated in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed inFigure 2, and this rotation is effected by means cf the followingtransmission mechanism. The axle 46, upon which the rollers 45 aresecured is provided at an intermediate point with a bevel gear 58 whichmeshes with another bevel gear 59 splined upon the longitudinallyextending drive shaft, and positioned thereon between the main part cfthe bracket or carriage 48 and the perforated upward extension 8|. Theshaft 65 passes through an opening in the carriage 4] and is rotatablysupported at its rear end in the depending bracket 62 secured as at 53upon the end of the supporting rod or bar 23. The forward end of thedrive shaft 68 is rotatably mounted in the depending portion 65 of thebracket 2l and upon the forward end of the shaft 60 there is secured abevel gear 61, which meshes with a bevel gear 68 fixed upon thetransverse drive shaft I8 between the arms 22 of the bracket 2|.

Upon one end of the conveyor drive shaft I2 there is fixed a gear 1E]which meshes with a larger gear 1I rotatably supported from one of theside frame members I8 upon the stub shaft 12. This gear 1I meshes withthe gear 14 fixed upon the end of the shaft I8. It will thus be r seenthat the conveyor shaft I2 serves to drive the feeding rolls 45 in adefinite relation to the rate of speed of the forwarding conveyor.

At the front edge of the pile there are disposed the pivoted front stops88 which are xed to the i transverse shaft 82 which extends between theside frames I0. Adjacent one end of the shaft 82 there is fixed a camlever 84, upon the end of which is carried the cam follower roller 85which is adapted to be contacted by the cam 86 which is fixed to, orformed integrally with, the large gear 1I. At the opposite end of thetransverse shaft 82 there is secured a lever arm 88 which is connectedto any suitable fixed point on the supporting frame by means of spring89, this spring serving to urge the front stops against the forward faceof the pile and the cam follower lever 84 against the cam 85 at alltimes. The operation of the front stop device is most effectively shownin Figure 5 of the drawings.

The details of the mechanism having been described, the operation of thedevice will be readily apparent. The pile of paper P is of coursecarried by a conventional vertical movable pile board, and it is raiseduntil the top sheet of the pile contacts with the separating and feedingrollers 45 and the pressure linger 48.

The feeder drive is started and the shaft I2 drives the conveyor tapesI5 and thus the gearing and transmission elements already describedrotate the rollers 45. These rollers, due to the fric- .to the frontstops 89, as clearly shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. By the time therear edge of the top sheet has reached the point of tangency of thesheet with` the rollers 45, the front stops 80 will be moved forwardlyto the dotted line position shown in Figure 5, by means of the cam 86and cam follower lever 84. At the same time the blast of air 55 from theorices 54 in the tube 5| will assist in the straightening out of thesheet and the forward edge will be projected onto the tapes l5 andwithin the bite of the conveyor rollers I4 and I6. The blast 55 from thetube 5I is preferably intermittent; this operation being effected bysuitable conventional synchronized valves in the air line 52. However,if desired, the blast may be continuous and the tube 5| stationary, orthe blast may be continuous and the tube 5| rotated to attain anintermittent effect upon the successive sheets S, S1, S2

It will be apparent to one skilled in the art how the blast .from thetube 5| may be made intermittent and synchronized with the operation ofthe front stop member 80. However, one suggested arrangement foreffecting this purpose, although not necessarily the preferred one, isshown in Figure 6 of the drawings. In this figure the conduit 52 isconnected with a pipe line 99 which is connected with any suitablesource of air under pressure. A valve 9| is disposed in this pipe lineand is adapted to be' opened and closed by the swinging of the handle orlever 92. 'Ihe valve may be biased toward closed position by means ofthe spring 93, one end of which may be secured to any stationary memberof the supporting frame of the feeder as at 94. The valve actuatinglever 92 may be provided with a cam following roller 95 which is adaptedto be maintained in contact with the cam 96 suitably shaped to open thevalve for the period required to effect the intermittent blast. The cam96 may be driven by any continually rotating member of the mechanicalfeed devices. In the arrangement suggested in Figure 6 the cam iscarried by a shaft or axle 91 which carries a gear 98 which is driven bythe pinion 99 fixed to the drive shaft I2.

The various operative devices are so synchronized that the front stops80 revert to their original positions before the tail edge of the sheetpasses beyond the sep-arating rolls, and when the stops have thus beenrestored, the next underlying sheet is buckled and forwarded in the sameway.' Thus the sheets are forwarded in an overlapping manner toaccomplish the desired stream feeding, the distance between the frontedges of the sheets being the same as the distance from the rear edge ofthe pile to the point of tangency of the pile with the rolls 45. Thestream of sheets being fed is clearly shown in Figure 2 of the drawingswhere sheet S is being buckled, and the preceding sheets S1, S2, arebeing advanced by the conveyor I5.

It will thus be seen that by means of the present invention there hasbeen provided a simple and effective frictional stream feed which has aminimum of parts and which is adapted to operate eiiiciently upon sheetsof a wide variety of widths and thicknesses. It is understood thatvarious changes and alterations can be made in the device as disclosedherein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined bythe following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A sheet feeder o-f the stream feeding type which comprises means forsupporting aV pile or bank of superposed sheets and means for effectingthe feeding of successive top sheets from the pile in overlappingrelation, said latter means comprising stop means for forward portionsof a top sheet, means for forming a buckle in said sheet in a fore andaft direction, means for releasing said stop means, and means forsubstantially simultaneously directing a blast of air downwardly uponthe buckled portion of the sheet to cause it to straighten out and thefront edge to project forwardly of the pile, and means for timing theactuation of the buckling means to operate upon the next succeedingsheet before the preceding sheet has cleared the pile.

2. A sheet feeder which comprises means for supporting a pile or bank ofsuperposed sheets and means for effecting the feeding of successive topsheets from the pile, said latter means comprising stop means forforward portions of a top sheet, means for forming a buckle in saidsheet in a fore and aft direction, means for releasing said stop means,and means for substantially simultaneously directing a blast of airdownwardly upon the buckled portion of the sheet to cause it tostraighten out and the front edge thereof to project forwardly of thepile.

3. A sheet feeder of the class described, which comprises incombination, means for supporting a pile or bank of superposed sheets,means fo-r effecting the feeding of successive top sheets from the pile,said latter means including intermittently actuated stop means forpreventing the forward and upward movement of a relatively forwardportion of the top sheet, means for buckling the top sheet in a forwarddirection toward said stop means, and means for projecting an air blastupon the buckled portion of the sheet to straighten the sheet and causeits forward edge to project beyond the front edge of the pile, at timesbetween the successive actuations of said stop means.

4. A sheet feeder of the class described, which comprises incombination, means for supporting a pile or bank of superposed sheets,means for effecting the feeding of successive top sheets from the pile,said latter means including intermittently actuated stop means forpreventing the forward and upward movement of a relatively forwardportion of the top sheet, continuously operating rotary frictionalmeans, means for buckling the top sheet in a forward direction towardsaid stop means, means for intermittently projecting an Vair blast uponthe buckled portion of the sheet to straighten the sheet and cause itsforward edge to project beyond the front edge of the pile, and means forsynchronizing the actuation of the air blast and the stop means forsuccessively releasing the sheets and straightening them out to causethe forward edges to project beyond the front edge of the pile.

5. A sheet feeder of the class described, which comprises incombination, means for supporting a pile or bank of `superposed sheets,means for effecting the feeding of sucssive top sheets from the pile,said latter means including intermittently actuated stop meansforpreventing the forward and upward movement of a relatively forwardportion of the top sheet, hold-down means resting upon the rear marginof the pile to retard the movement of underlying sheets, continuouslyoperating rotary frictional means for buckling the top sheet in aforward direction toward said stop means, means `for intermittentlyprojecting an air blast upon the buckled portion of the sheet tostraighten the sheet and cause its forward edge to project beyond thefront edge of the pile, and means for synchronizing the actuation of theair blast and the stop means for successively releasing the sheets andstraightening them out to cause the forward edges to project beyond thefront edge of the pile.

6. A sheet feeder of the stream feeding type, which comprises incombination, means for supporting a pile or bank of superposed sheets, asheet forwarding means arranged in advance of the front end of the pile,means for effecting the feeding of successive top sheets from the pilein overlapping relation, said last named means including intermittentlyactuated stop means for preventing the forward and upward movement of arelatively forward portion of the top sheet, means for buckling the topsheet in a forward direction toward said stop means, means forprojeoting an air blast upon the buckled portion of the sheet tostraighten the sheet and cause its forward edge to project beyond thefront edge of the pile, means for synchronizing the actuation of the airblast and the stop means for successively releasing the sheets andstraightening them out to cause the forward edges to project beyond thefront edge of the pile, and means for timing the operating of thefeeding means with the forwarding conveyor to cause the sheets to bedelivered in overlapping relation.

'7. A sheet feeder of the class described which comprises incombination, a supporting frame, means for supporting a pile or bank ofsuperposed sheets to be fed, sheet feeding mechanism carried by saidframe and comprising an elongated member disposed above the'pile andpivotally mounted at its forward end upon a portion of the frameadjacent the front edge of the pile for swinging movement in a verticalplane, a frictional feeding element carried by said member and adaptedto rest upon the top of the pile, operating mechanism for said feedingelement also carried by said elongated member, and transmission meansconcentric with the pivot point of said member whereby the transmissionof power to said friction element is not disturbed by the swingingmovement of said member.

8. A sheet feeder of the class described which comprises in combination,a supporting frame, means for supporting a pile or bank of superposedsheets to be fed, sheet feeding mechanism carried by said frame andcomprising an elongated membei' disposed above the pile and pivotallymounted at its forward end upon a portion of the frame adjacent thefront edge of the pile for swinging movement in a vertical plane, arotary frictional feeding element carried by said member and adapted torest upon the top of the pile, operating mechanism for said feedingelement also carried by said elongated member, transmission meansconcentric with the pivot point of said member whereby the transmissionof power to said friction element is not disturbed by the swingingmovement of said member, and means for resiliently counterbalancing partof the weight of the elongated member and the devices carried thereby.

9. A sheet feeder of the class described comprising means for supportinga pile of sheets, a rotary friction wheel adapted to rest upon the topof the pile and maintain continuous rolling Contact with the successivetop sheets of the pile to move the contacted portion thereof forwardly,a sheet stop element arranged forwardly of said wheel, and means foralternately bringing said stop element into and out of position toprevent the movement of the relatively forward portion of the top sheet,whereby successive top sheets are buckled in a fore and aft directionand then allowed to project forwardly of the pile when the bucklestraightens out upon a release of the stop element, and whereby thesheets are fed in overlapping stream formation, the spacing ofcorresponding portions of said sheets being equal to the distance fromthe point of contact of said wheel with the pile to the rear edge of thepile.

10. A sheet feeder of the class described comprising means forsupporting a pile of sheets, a rotary friction wheel adapted to restupon the top of the pile and maintain continuous rolling Contact withthe successive top sheets of the pile to move the contacted portionsthereof forwardly, a sheet stop element arranged forwardly of saidwheel, means for directing a blast of air in a downward and slightlyforward direction upon the top of the pile, and means for alternatelybringing said stop element into and out of position to prevent themovement of the relatively forward portion of the top sheet, wherebysuccessive top sheets are buckled in a fore and aft direction and thenallowed to project forwardly of the pile when the buckle straightens outunder the influence of air blast upon a release of the stop element, andwhereby the sheets are fed in overlapping stream formation, the spacingof corresponding portions of said sheets being equal to the distancefrom the point of contact of said wheel with the pile to the rear edgeof the pile.

1l. A sheet feeder of the class described comprising means forsupporting a pile of sheets, a hold-down element adapted to rest withrelatively light pressure on the rear margin of the top of the pile, arotary friction wheel adapted to rest upon the top of the pile andmaintain continuous rolling contact with the successive top sheets ofthe pile to move the contacted portions thereof forwardly of said wheel,a sheet stop element arranged forwardly of said wheel, means forintermittently directing a blast of air in a downward and slightlyforward direction upon the top of the pile, and means for alternatelybringing said stop element into and out of position to prevent themovement of the relatively forward portion of the top sheet, wherebysuccessive top sheets are buckled in a fore and aft direction and thenallowed to project forwardly of the pile when the buckle straightens outupon a, release of the stop element, the next adjacent underlying sheetsbeing held by said hold-down, and whereby the sheets are fed inoverlapping stream formation, the spacing of corresponding portions ofsaid sheets being equal to the distance from the point of Contact ofsaid wheel with the pile to the rear edge of the pile.

l2. In a sheet feeder of the class described, which comprises asupporting frame and a pile board adapted to support a pile or bank ofsheets in superposed relation; sheet feeding means comprising, incombination, an elongated support having one end pivotally connected toa part of the frame and extending rearwardly above the pile, a feedercarriage carried by said support and adjustable therealong, and afriction roller on said carriage adapted to bear upon the tcp of thepile during the feeding operation.

.13. In a sheet feeder of the class described, which comprises asupporting frame and a pile board adapted to support a pile or bank ofsheets in superposed relation; sheet feeding means comprising, incombination, an elongated support having one end pivotally connected toa part of the frame and extending rearwardly above the pile, a feedercarriage carried by said support and adjustable therealong, a frictionroller on said carriage and adapted to bear upon the top of the pileduring the feeding operation, means also carried by said carriage andspaced from said roller for directing a blast of air upon the top of thepile.

14. In a sheet feeder of the class described, which comprises asupporting frame and a pile board adapted to support a pile or bank ofsheets in superposed relation; sheet feeding means comprising, incombination, an elongated support having one end pivotally connected toapart of the frame adjacent the forward end of the pile and extendingrearwardly above the pile, a feeder carriage carried by said support andadjustable therealong, a friction roller and a rear hold-down element onsaid carriage and both adapted to bear upon the top of the pile duringthe feeding operation, means also carried by said carriage and spacedfrom said roller for directing a blast of air upon the top of the pile,gearing carried by said carriage and said support for rotating saidroller, and a flexible hose connecting said blast means with a source ofcompressed air.

15. In a sheet feeder of the class described which comprises asupporting frame and a pile board adapted to support a pile or bank ofsheets in superposed relation, sheet feeding means comprising in spacedrelation, a fixed tie bar extending across the frame from one side tothe other adjacent the forward edge of the pile and above the topthereof, a rotatable cross shaft disposed substantially parallel withand in the vicinity of said bar and having bearings in said frame, anelongated support having one end pivotally connected to said shaft at anintermediate point, and extending rearwardly above the pile, a feedercarriage carried by said support and adjustable therealong, a frictionroller and a rear hold-down element on said carriage and both adapted tobear upon the top of the pile during the feeding operation, a bevel geararranged to rotate with said carriage, a bevel gear upon said shaftadjacent the point of pivotal connection of said support, a longitudinalshaft rotatably supported from said supporting member and disposedparallel therewith, a bevel gear fixed to the forward end of saidlongitudinal shaft and meshing with said second named bevel gear, abevel gear splined on said longitudinal shaft, constrained to movelongitudinally with said carriage, and meshing with said first namedbevel gear, means for driving said first named cross shaft, an arm onsaid supporting member and a spring extending between said arm and saidfixed bar to exert a resilient force on said supporting member toregulate the pressure with which it bears upon the pile.

16. A sheet feeder of the stream feeding type which comprises means forsupporting a pile or bank of superposed sheets and means for effectingthe feeding of successive top sheets from the pile in overlappingrelation, said means comprising stop means for forward portions of a topsheet, pressure means adapted to maintain continuous contact with therearmost portion of the top sheet, means adapted to withdraw saidrearmost portion of the top sheet from under the pressure means and tobuckle said top sheet in a fore and aft direction against said stopmeans, means for releasing said stop means to allow the buckled portionof the sheet to straighten and the front edge to project forwardly ofthe pile, and means for timing the actuation of the buckling means tooperate upon the succeeding Ysheet before the preceding sheet hascleared the pile.

THEODORE JOHN KAUFFELD.

